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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Promit, n. Also: -itt, -yt(t, (-yct, -ute). [Only Sc., f. Promit v.¹ Cf. Promis, Promes, Promeis.]

1. A promise. = Promis n. 1.(1) 1462 Peebles B. Rec. I 145.
Be the sayd master Thomas awn promyt in court 1494 Loutfut MS 111 a.
I … presentis me … befor ȝow as my promyt wes this day 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1742. Id. Æn. viii Prol. 98.
Sum pyke thank with prevy promyt [: lyt, ȝit, wyt] Id. Direct. 120.
Now am I fully quyt … of myn ald promyt Quhilk I hir maid 1531 Bell. Boece (M) II 394.
King Iames, knawing noch bot dissaitt in thair promittis, depeschitt thame 1535 Stewart 6042.
And all promute first [maid] into thair king Ib. 48073.
With mony fals promit Ib. 45054. 1559–60 Inverness Rec. I 41.
Accep George Cuthbert [etc.] … quha haldis thame at the fyrst promit tha made hyme a1568 Bann. MS 71 b/32.
Nor be nocht tystit with ane licht promit [: wit](2) 1490 Irland Mir. II 109/18.
Vthir mony leill peple kepis thar promyt 1513 Doug. vi v 105. a1538 Abell 94 a.
Becaus he kepit nocht his promit in returne to the kirk of Rome 15.. Clar. v 187.(3) 1522 Douglas Corr. 86.
Albeyt … thair may be none … excuse that suld cause ony creature brek his lawte or promyt and I beseyk God that I may see him really punyst for his … promyse brokyn(4) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1969.
In thair promittis thay stude euer firme and plane 1533 Boece 487 b.
He … wald erare stand at his first promytt than to new invasouris assist a1538 Abell 46 b.
Arthur had consentit and stand to his first promyt(5) 1535 Stewart 55349.
To King Edward ane promit than maid he … To his sone Richard … The croun of Scotland sould till him succeid 15.. Clar. v 1076.
Ȝow thanking … Of ȝour promit him to at neid suporte(6) a1500 Seven S. 29.
Vndir promyt of gud reward 1513 Doug. i Prol. 439.
Ene maid nevir aith, Promyt, nor band with hir fortill abyde 1535 Stewart 44470. 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 139.
Gif he may be [? had] ony way without promit of favouris to our parti

2. A contractual undertaking or obligation in writing; also, the legal document recording such an undertaking: cf. Promis n. 1.Also letter of promit.(1) 1482 Edinb. Chart. 156.
To the observing, keping, and fulfilling of all … thir promittis, bandis, and oblisingis 1482–3 Acta Aud. in Acta Conc. II cv.
Efter the forme of ane instrument of his band and promytt schewin 1507 Reg. Privy S. I 224/1. 1511 Exch. R. XIII 653 n.
Be this my promitt subscrivit with my hand at Edinburgh 1521 Liber Melros II 632.
Throw occasioun of our brekin and non obserwinge of thir articulis conditionis and promittis abon writtin 1524 Reg. Privy S. I 491/2.
And … gevis the sammyn to him [etc.] … as the said promitt beris 1526 Lennox Mun. 227.
And for the swyr kepyng of this owr kingly promytt and obligatioun mayd of owr awyn fre motywe … we haif sworn to abyd at the samyn … and that we sall newyr reuok na agane call the samyn … bot to obserf and kep the samyn in all punctis 1537 in Bisset I 120/1.
And this his maiesties ratificatioun approbatioun promit and grant of all thir premissis his hienes subscryvit with his hand [10 June 1537](2) 1500 Acta Conc. II 460.
Or ony promyct or contract of mariage til be made of him 1510 Crim. Trials I i 65.
And adnullis all contractis and promittis of takin and settin of houssis 1510 Reg. Privy S. I 328/1.
A promit maid be the kingis grace to the Abbot and convent of Lundoris … that … he sall [etc.] 1511 Ib. 348/2.
With this promit, that the kingis advocat sal [etc.] 1549 Compl. 181/2.(3) 1460–88 Facs. Nat. MSS II 61.
Nochtwithstanding that trewis war takin for lang termez … and lettrez of promitt of King Edwardis and vtheris vndir him bundyn tharefor 1501 Reg. Privy S. I 104/2.
A letter of promitt to Thomas Lord Fraser of Lovat made to him be the kingis hienes quhilk folowis in this forme: We promitt fathfully [etc.]

3. A scriptural promise. = Promis n. 2, Promes n. b. 1490 Irland Mir. I 18/26.
And to cum to the vij promittis that he has promittit and heicht to his propir childer c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke xxiv 49.
I sal send the promitt [P. biheest, Hamilton Cat. 195 promis, L. (Vulgate) promissum] of my Fader into you Id. Rom. iv 13.
The promitt [P. biheest, L. promissio] to Abraam Id. Gall. iii 17, Hebrews xi 13. 1562-3 Winȝet I 64/24.
Conforme to our Saluiouris promitt 1567 G. Ball. 88.
And Goddis word and promit Is trewar [etc.] Ib. 113.